Justice

(Click here for an audio version.  The intro and conclusion are from 'Godpleaser' by Petra.)

Much has been said in recent years about ‘social justice’.

But what is justice?  Who gets to define it?

May I suggest that the Only Source of true justice - and the One without whom we would have no concept of it – has something to say to us on the matter.

Justice Defined

In the Bible the words ‘justice’ and ‘righteousness’ are used hundreds of times.  The words are often used interchangeably, as the concepts of justice and righteousness are indelibly intertwined:

·      It is a legal judgment of what is defined as right; a righteous standard.  It is defined by God as a standard by which a person is acceptable to Him.  It is a consistent standard applied to all people without discrimination.

The testimony of the Scriptures is that man in his fallen state is prone to distort justice, even in the smallest thoughts, words, and actions.

Consider how the Almighty describes Himself:

"Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.""  (Exodus 34:6-7, to Moses)

Who can meet this standard?  Who is without guilt?

No one (see Romans 3:9-20).  This is why God offers the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.""  (Romans 1:16-17)

Note that the word ‘righteousness’ here is justice, and is used interchangeably here.

The only way for any one of us to meet God’s standard of justice is through faith in the only One who met that standard and paid our debt: the God-Man Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

God is Infinitely More Committed to Justice than Anyone

"Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD."  (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Justice comes out of the very character of God.

He loves justice more than you or I do.

"He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD."  

(Psalm 33:5)

He hates injustice more than you or I do.

"God is a righteous judge,

And a God who has indignation every day."  

(Psalms 7:11)

God’s Justice Requires That He Be Merciful

Again:

"He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD."  

(Psalm 33:5)

"The LORD is gracious and merciful;

Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

The LORD is good to all,

And His mercies are over all His works."  

(Psalm 145:8-9)

Because God is just, His mercy is essential for our survival.  Because God is just, His grace is essential for our eternal destiny.  Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, namely, eternal punishment.  Grace is getting what we don’t deserve, namely, eternal life.

Without God’s mercy, we are not even able to exist to have a conversation about justice.

Only God Can Give True Justice

"Many seek the ruler's favor,

But justice for man comes from the LORD."  

(Proverbs 29:26)

The testimony of the Scriptures is that we are prone to injustice through partiality (e.g. 2 Chronicles 19:7, Proverbs 20:10, James 2:9), our natural corruption (e.g. Proverbs 28:21, Romans 3:10), and our unwillingness to stand against peer pressure (e.g. Exodus 23:1-3, John 12:43, Galatians 1:10).

So while looking to earthly authorities is right and appropriate, our expectations must be measured.  Ultimate justice is often not realized in this life, but each of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:11-12).  Ultimately, no one gets away with anything.

God’s Justice Requires That We Do Something

"He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?"  

(Micah 6:8)

It is impossible to do justice without walking with the One who is its Source.  The first thing we must do is to repent and believe in Jesus.  Justice must land within our hearts before we can truly dispense it to others.

Opportunities for justice abound daily, in countless ways, from kindness to the less fortunate to writing your elected officials.  But it is almost always unseen and bathed in prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-3).  It does not occur on ‘social’ media, but in the people you and I interact with every day.  We do it not for human accolades, but for the applause of heaven (Matthew 6:1-4)

Let’s have our actions exceed our words in this regard, shall we?  Look for those who are not just talking, but doing.  (For a great example of this and contrast, see the article, ‘I Went to the Border to Help People.  Members of Congress Were Shocked When I Asked Them to Help Too.’)

You Can’t Do Justice Without Jesus

"Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.""  (Matthew 11:4-6)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.""  (Romans 1:16-17)

What a tragedy it would be for us to help the physical and ignore the eternal.  Both are important, but only one is ultimate.

What a tragedy it would be to think we could understand or do justice without Jesus

Justice is a Cause of Worship

"I will sing of lovingkindness and justice,

To You, O LORD, I will sing praises."  

(Psalm 101:1)

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.

In Your name they rejoice all the day,

And by Your righteousness they are exalted."  

(Psalms 89:14-16)

Let us never lose the point of God’s justice, and that is to worship and magnify Him.

In His Grip,

Mark D. Twombly

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